Gauri Kund

Catchment

Mandakini

Altitude

2040 mts

District

Rudraprayag

Division

Garhwal

Gauri Kund is a famous Hindu pilgrimage site situated at a distance of 28 km from Ukhimath and 5 km from Sonprayag. This kund is located in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand state. Gauri Kund is idyllically situated on the banks of Mandakini River. It is also the base camp for trek to Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand. It lies at an impressive altitude of 6,000 feet in the Garhwal Himalayas and coordinates on latitude 30°38? N and longitude 79°1? E. The gorgeous vista of the mountainous terrains and the vivid greenery around Vasuki Ganga flowing nearby is a sight to behold.

According to Hindu mythology, it is believed that this was the place where Goddess Parvati meditated for about hundred years, to have Lord Shiva as her husband. Nearby, is an ancient temple of Gaura Mai which dedicated to goddess Parvati. Also, “Triyugi Narayan” where Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva married is located nearby. The temple contains intricately designed idols of the couple.

Sacred hot and cold water springs:

There are two sacred bathing pools here, one of which one has hot water with sulphur traces and the other one is a cold water spring known as Gaurikund. The water of this kund changes frequently. The water from the hot spring drains in Mandakini River which flows nearby.

A sacred temple which reminds of the act of beheading Ganesha by Lord Shiva:

The Sirkata Temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha is half a km away from Gaurikund. This temple was built after the famous legend of Parvati, who ordered Ganesha to guard the door as she was bathing in the pool. When Ganesha, restricted Lord Shiva’s movement inside the pool, Shiva became furious and in a rage beheaded Ganesha, not realizing that he was his own son. On realizing his death, Parvati begged Shiva to bring her beloved son back to life. Consequently, his head was replaced with that of a white elephant and, Ganesha was blessed with the gift of immortality and got a name name-Ganpati. Since, then he is worshipped as the God of prosperity and happiness all over India. There is a huge rock known as Uma Shankar Shila, where the spirits of 12 sages who followed Lord Shiva after being banished from Lanka, reside.